But he ­remembers when even he struggled to get clubs to take notice after he finished playing and wanted to move into coaching or ­management.

Even now, Chris Hughton at Norwich, is the only black boss in the Premier League.

Batson said: “I retired at 31. I did my licence in 1983 and I applied and got an ­interview at my old club Cambridge United. But, after that, I didn’t even get replies.

“I’m not unique. A lot of coaches – not just black, but white ­applicants as well – would say that they didn’t even get a reply.

“When Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the PFA, approached me I did think: ‘What are the chances of me getting my ­opportunity?’

“At the moment we’ve got just one in the top flight in terms of ­managerial ­positions. The figures don’t lie. But football has ­recognised that. And this is an opportunity to do ­something about it.”

The bursary programme is run by the FA in conjunction with the Premier League, the Football League, the League Managers’ Association and the PFA. National ­Football Centre chairman David Sheepshanks and Taylor were among several high-profile figures giving their support.

The programme aims to help candidates experience life at a Premier League or Football League club, with the ultimate aim of getting more black and ethnic minority coaches within the pyramid and aspiring to top jobs.

One coach, Marlese ­Levermore, said: “I’ve been in the women’s game for 13 years and, in terms of minorities, they are starting to turn it around because they have seen there is a need. The game is crying out for a more diverse approach and the FA is adapting.”

Another, Bejal Shah, said: “Talking to Brendon and to others, this will be a year-on-year thing and, hopefully, it will open up other ­opportunities.

“It will still be some time, maybe five or 10 years, before we see changes at the top. But, at the bottom, we are seeing that already.”

Batson, also the FA consultant for equality, added: “We are not fooling ourselves that this is a silver bullet, but what we are saying is that it’s a start.

“We have a limited budget, so there are only so many we can take on an annual basis. We’ve got a three-year project at the moment. Whether it will last any longer, I’m not sure.

“This is a roll-out of it. But what the message will be is: Football recognises the lack of representation, the lack of diversity within our coaching structures and it’s across the board. It isn’t just about within our ­professional game – it’s across the board. Governing bodies, county associations.

“We are saying we will support you financially to increase your coaching qualifications so that when a job comes around that you think you can be suitable for, you have already done the hard work in terms of getting the ­qualification.